There are many reasons you can be a dentist. It’s a career that offers many rewards and challenges, as well as the chance to help people and make communities more healthy.
As the population grows, health care laws change and the elderly retire from many of the dentists trained in the 1960s or 1970s, there is a growing demand for new dentists. Practicing dentist-to-population ratios vary widely, but range from roughly 42 to 108 dentists per 100,000 people, according to the American Dental Association.
Many people choose dentist locum jobs because…
Their patients’ oral health can be restored and transformed.
The dentist can have the privilege, joy, and satisfaction of positively changing a patient’s life through restoring their oral health.
Your career should be your own.
Dental students have the chance to start their own businesses after graduation. This gives them a lot more autonomy and allows them the freedom to decide their career and business goals.
A good salary is possible.
According to the 2018 ADA Health Policy Institute Survey of Dental Practice, the average net income of an independent private general practitioner, who owned all or a portion of his or her practice, was $190,440. The average income of a dental specialist who owned all or a part of the practice was $330,000. Incomes can vary by country and depending on the type of practice.
You have many career choices.
While the majority of dentists who graduate from dental school go into general practice, 80% of them do so in private practice. However, there are many clinical, research, and academic opportunities available to new and experienced dentists at all stages of their careers.
Keep your lifestyle flexible.
There are many options for dentistry careers and practices. Dentists can choose how they would like to live and what hours and days they work.
The future of oral health care is yours.
A dentist is not only able to practice dentistry, but can also make a significant contribution to the future direction and quality of oral health care through research and education. As faculty members in dental education, dentist educators can shape the curriculum and professional role of the dentist. Dental researchers use the latest techniques and technologies, and apply cutting-edge scientific findings to help advance the profession.
Respect their communities.
Dentists are well-respected by their communities for their contributions to public health and the drive to improve lives of others.
In their daily work, they should be creative.
Dentistry is often described as an art. It is a skill that requires special technique and mastery. Dentistry is not only about maintaining healthy teeth, but it’s also an aesthetic-focused practice. A large portion of dentistry is about restoring smiles and making them happy.
Be part of a team.
While the dentist is often seen as the “lone practitioner”, dentistry is actually a team-oriented profession. It doesn’t matter if the dentist is part of the team (dental assistant, dental hygienist and lab technician), working together with patients to restore and maintain their oral health. Or if the dentist plays a role in an interprofessional team with other health professionals to improve overall patient health, it will bring them great satisfaction.
Offer benevolent assistance to their communities.
A dentist with an annual income above the national norm and a flexible work schedule is permitted to provide oral care to communities and people who desperately need it.
